Application of the remote sensing and geo-spatial technology in terrain analysis and terrain classification in context of creation of SDI for marine and coastal regions

Abstract

The ever increasing urbanization along the coasts resulting destructive pressures on the Marine and coastal regions. Developing area/region specific SDI’s, using developments in remote sensing and geospatial technologies, will surely add strength to the National and Global SDIs. The main aim of this study to understand the topographic features which is the most important part of terrain analysis and for that develop the application of the available Geospatial Tools for the creation of datasets, which are building blocks of any SDI. The surface analysis of South Western part of India and Benthic Terrain Analysis of Eastern Arabian Sea is carried out using the NASA Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM) data and Geospatial tools to understand the terrain characteristics. The terrain analysis of southern Maharashtra and Goa region is validated using ASTER 3D remote sensing data. The geospatial study is carried out to generate base-level information for terrain analysis and classification. Using improved e-topo2 bathymetry data and Benthic Terrain Modeller (BTM) extension of Arc GIS version 10.2, bathymetry position Index (BPI) at different resolution/scale (broad, fine and standard scale) is achieved for preparing slope, depth, and rugosity maps. Based on bathymetry derivative maps, benthic terrain map of the Eastern Arabian Sea are generated and are used to classify benthic Application of the Remote Sensing and Geo-spatial Technology in Terrain Analysis and Terrain Classification in Context of Creation of SDI for Marine & Coastal Regions environment of the Ocean. The study demonstrates that Geospatial technique as most efficient, cost-effective and easiest tools for surface/benthic terrain analysis and mapping provides most of the data for the development of SDIs for Coastal and marine regions.